Eman Esfandi Talks Season 2, Doable Star Wars Film Function – The Hollywood Reporter

[This story contains spoilers for Ahsoka.]

Ahsoka star Eman Esfandi known as his personal shot. 

When Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano first appeared in live-action on The Mandalorian season two and voiced her intention to seek out the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), Ezra Bridger’s personal soar to live-action instantly grew to become a near-inevitability for die-hard Star Wars followers. The already-great odds elevated much more when Dawson’s spinoff collection, Ahsoka, was introduced shortly thereafter in December 2020, with longtime Star Wars creator and George Lucas apprentice Dave Filoni on the helm. This meant that Filoni would possible introduce not solely Ezra and Thrawn into the live-action fold, but in addition a lot extra of his beloved animated characters from the likes of Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

In consequence, the function of the long-lost Jedi, Ezra, grew to become one of the crucial coveted elements on the town, and 6 months earlier than the casting course of even began, Esfandi informed his representatives how issues would play out.

“I emailed my agent and supervisor six months previous to my audition and was like, ‘Hey, after they forged for Ezra Bridger, I’m going to play him. So use these footage,’” Esfandi tells The Hollywood Reporter.

When a cryptic audition got here up six months later for a personality named “Riz,” Esfandi and his group rapidly decoded that it was for Ezra. And just like his co-star Natasha Liu Bordizzo and her live-action tackle the animated character of Sabine Wren, Esfandi was forged off his self-tape alone that included a minimum of one High Gun scene. So he fulfilled his personal prophecy from six months earlier in a reasonably streamlined course of. 

On the finish of Star Wars Rebels, Ezra sacrificed all the pieces to maintain Thrawn, and himself by extension, trapped in one other galaxy the place the evil Grand Admiral could possibly be neutralized. Consequently, Ezra missed out on all of the occasions of the unique Star Wars trilogy. So, upon Ezra and Sabine’s dramatic reunion on Ahsoka, Esfandi and Bordizzo would ultimately have a scene throughout the seventh episode the place Sabine brings Ezra up to the mark on all the pieces that occurred throughout his prolonged absence. The added wrinkle to their alternate is that Sabine was additionally updating Esfandi himself on all the pieces he’d neglected thus far.

“I wasn’t a Star Wars individual earlier than the present. I simply didn’t develop up on it. However after we shot the present, I inhaled all of it for six months,” Esfandi admits. “So, when Sabine was filling Ezra in, I additionally didn’t know a lot about it. As soon as I obtained to know all the pieces, it simply made that scene twice as humorous. I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, that was how they crammed Ezra in? That’s hilarious.’”

Ahsoka season one ends with Ezra and Sabine primarily buying and selling locations. She’s now caught in one other galaxy with Ahsoka, and Ezra has returned dwelling, reuniting with Rebels pal Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). And whereas Ezra is conscious that Thrawn has additionally come again to the acquainted galaxy that he sacrificed a lot to guard, he’s not but conscious that Sabine’s take care of the enemy opened the door for all of this to occur.

With a possible season two nonetheless on the horizon, in addition to Filoni’s introduced movie that can sometime deliver this present Disney+ Star Wars storyline to a conclusion, Esfandi is completely fantastic if his tenure ends with that future movie. 

“If I do a second season, I’ll be completely satisfied. If we additionally do a film, I’ll be so completely satisfied, and I’d by no means want greater than that,” Esfandi says. “I’m like Harrison Ford in that approach the place I don’t want Ezra’s story to simply reside without end. I’d reasonably his story be concluded in essentially the most applicable approach for his character. So if it ends on the film, I’ll wash my palms and thank God and transfer on.”

Under, throughout a latest spoiler dialog with THR, Esfandi additionally discusses Ezra’s possible response to Sabine’s actions that finally restored the specter of Thrawn. Then he appears again on a day throughout stunt coaching the place he didn’t acknowledge a “statuesque man” who wowed him along with his lightsaber expertise. 

Nicely, let’s begin at the start. I presume you made a tape for what was thought of to be a secretive mission on the time. Did it’s important to carry out a High Gun scene like Natasha Liu Bordizzo did?

It was really the very same scene that Natasha had. It was the identical scene from High Gun, however I had by no means seen High Gun, so I didn’t know what the scene was from on the time. I simply knew they have been dummy sides.

Have you ever now seen High Gun?

Yeah, we began watching High Gun, and I forgot about [the audition scene] till the precise scene got here on. And I used to be like, “Guys! Guys! One sec! Do you know … ?” And a few of them have been like, “That’s actually cool.” And a few have been like, “Oh, okay.” (Laughs.) So it was cooler to me, I believe.

Was your efficiency on tape remotely just like Ezra? Are you able to see, in hindsight, what they noticed?

For certain, and I knew I used to be auditioning for Ezra. I used to be identical to, “Okay, that is Ezra.” I solely did one take for every of the scenes, and it simply felt proper. It felt pure. It felt like Ezra was actually there, and I despatched it in feeling fairly assured about them seeing Ezra immediately. They usually did.

Natasha didn’t know she was auditioning for Sabine, so did you actually know you have been auditioning for Ezra? Or did you simply have a powerful hunch?

Technically, it was a hunch, however I deal with my hunches as actually understanding issues. I emailed my agent and supervisor six months previous to my audition and was like, “Hey, after they forged for Ezra Bridger, I’m going to play him. So use these footage.” After which, six months later, they have been like, “Hey, we expect this [audition] is the [Ezra] function.” And I used to be like, “Oh, that is him. Cool.” The nameless sides tracked with Disney, so did the character description, after which the character’s identify was Riz. I used to be like, “Okay, they’re in all probability searching for somebody who appears like Riz [Ahmed].” So we have been all fairly certain that it was him. We have been like, “Yeah, that’s obtained to be Ezra.”

So it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Sure, very a lot.

Natasha was just about forged off her tape alone, which is kind of uncommon. There have been mainly no callbacks or added hurdles. Did you even have minimal hoops to leap via? 

Yeah, they supplied the function the following day, so it was the identical factor. It was straight off the tape, which, as , just isn’t tremendous regular for TV collection. In order that was actually flattering and likewise affirming. It simply felt like, “Okay, they know what they need they usually see that in me.” They usually noticed it in Tash, too. So it felt good. 

You had a ton of backstory already obtainable to you thru Rebels, and Natasha handled it as a reminiscence financial institution that she might draw on as wanted. However I learn that you simply opted to not get too wrapped up in his animated previous. How come?

I already felt like I had a discourse with Ezra as a personality, and there was a lot details about Ezra on-line as if he was a public determine. You possibly can search somebody in historical past for a biopic you’re doing, and you’d by no means get to see them alive, however you’d learn all the pieces about them and their story. So I handled Ezra that approach. I examine his household, his dad and mom, his upbringing and his grasp. So I learn all the pieces about Ezra and watched different surrounding, adjoining issues. I simply didn’t need to watch precise younger Ezra, as a result of I didn’t need the voice to get too locked into my head and throat. I didn’t need to be too hokey about attempting to repeat a sure physicality and mannerisms which might be technically from an animated present. We’re common live-action, and I’ve to maneuver like an everyday human and never like a cartoon. And so I assumed it could get too cartoony if I watched Rebels, versus simply treating him like an everyday character that you simply lookup all the knowledge of after which embody it as your physicality embodies it naturally.

What struck you most concerning the character? What did you discover to be most actable?

Ezra’s levity was actually charming, however I shied away from fooling around and goofy at first simply because there’s a stigma. The primary variations of Brown males in TV or movie have been both terrorists or the incapable and weak comedic aid characters. So I all the time was like, “I’m not going to do this, as a result of I don’t need to get boxed in there and should combat that stereotype.” It’s just like not eager to do terrorist roles. However Ezra is tremendous foolish and goofy, and it was so gentle and charming. It’s a hopeful power that he has, and it relieved all of that from me. I used to be like, “Oh, no, I can completely let that aspect out, and it is going to be actually enjoyable.” So it’s way more enjoyable to be gentle and optimistic and carefree, and I’d say that was essentially the most satisfying factor about Ezra that was actable. It’s opened that up in my very own existence, which has been very nice.

When Ezra first seems as a hologram in episode one, it’s a youthful model with out the beard. Did they shave your face on the very finish of the season only for that one piece?

Yeah, they simply waited till I shot all my different scenes to shave my face and put me in that bit. They knew that when they shaved my face, they couldn’t return. It was additionally refreshing to know that I wasn’t going to do any reshoots. They have been like, “You’re positively not doing reshoots. We’re shaving your face.” And I used to be like, “Thanks, Dave.”

“I knew I might depend on you.” What’s the story behind Ezra and Sabine’s first correct reunion scene?

We obtained along with Dave and Jennifer [Getzinger], the director, to run via the scene and see what the chemistry can be like. However as quickly as we obtained collectively for the rehearsal, each Dave and Jennifer joked, “Okay, you don’t even should observe this. You two have already got the chemistry of those characters, and we’re simply going to allow you to guys do it.” So Natasha and I have been like, “Nice!” Neither of us actually wanted or needed a rehearsal an excessive amount of, they usually didn’t really feel like we wanted one both. There’d additionally been a scarcity of communication between Ezra and Sabine anyway, so the much less we converse, the higher or the brisker it could possibly be. After which, on the day, it got here fairly fast. A couple of takes in, it felt very locked in and really pure. 

That was a humorous day, as a result of Natasha had been telling me that there wasn’t lots of improv within the stuff that they’d already achieved, and I like improv. And I used to be like, “Oh, actually?” And he or she was like, “Yeah, it’s simply by nature of the traces and the setups with the photographs.” So I used to be like, “Oh, okay, however possibly they’ll allow us to.” And once we obtained to assembly and saying howdy and no matter else we needed to say, they have been like, “Improv!” And I used to be like, “Sick!” So we improvised quite a bit, and it was extra in order that the power of what we simply improvised was nonetheless there within the subsequent takes. So we improvised like three or 4 takes, after which we reeled it again into the pure traces. And so you possibly can really feel how free and free it’s.

Did any of that improv make the ultimate minimize?

Yeah, it was when Sabine touches Ezra’s outfit, and that led into: “I see my mates discovered you.” That occurred otherwise each time, and that’s the one which landed.  

Ezra sacrificed his life and happiness to maintain Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) at bay in one other galaxy, and now, Sabine has undone that sacrifice at nice threat to the first galaxy. She stored dodging the topic when requested, however what do you count on his response to be as soon as he is aware of the complete extent of Sabine’s actions?

I believe he’ll forgive her. He’ll perceive what it could’ve felt prefer to be in her place, particularly after listening to about her household on Mandalore and the way everybody that she cared for was gone. So I believe it’ll resonate. He was a child all on his personal for a extremely very long time till he was discovered. He did stuff that he doesn’t essentially remorse, however needs he hadn’t achieved. He adopted the Darkish Facet of the Pressure. He went with Darth Maul and opened a Sith holocron at a Sith temple. He did lots of issues to attempt to assist and to attempt to get issues for his household and the folks he beloved and the planet he beloved. So he’s not a stranger to following your instinct in a approach that possibly isn’t for the perfect, however feels most satisfying. And both approach, I’m certain he’ll even have some form of feeling that all of it performed out the best way it was meant to play out. So, although her actions appear counterintuitive and work in opposition to all the pieces Ezra sacrificed himself for, he has such connection to the Pressure that he would perceive it was meant to be.

Ezra has been gone for thus lengthy that he missed the complete unique Star Wars trilogy, and he needed to hear about it third-hand from Sabine.

(Laughs.)

Did a part of you need to play his reactions even greater given how dramatic that story is?

Sure and no. It’s a foolish scene for Ezra to be crammed in like that. Ezra is crammed in on the Unique Trilogy, essentially the most influential trilogy in historical past, whereas on just a little pod, and it’s so informal. (Laughs.) “Oh, that’s what occurred? Loopy!” I assumed that was so humorous, and I simply needed to depart it as is. I didn’t have any ideas on it. I assumed it was meta-ridiculous humorous that Ezra was crammed in that approach on everyone’s favourite trilogy, everybody’s favourite a part of the franchise.

I wasn’t a Star Wars individual earlier than the present. I simply didn’t develop up on it. However after we shot the present, I inhaled all of it for six months, and that simply made the scene even funnier. So, when Sabine was filling Ezra in, I additionally didn’t know a lot about it. So I used to be like, “Oh, that’s hilarious. I actually don’t know a lot about this world.” So as soon as I obtained to know all the pieces, it simply made that scene twice as humorous. I used to be like, “Oh my God, that was how they crammed Ezra in? That’s hilarious.” It was foolish and good.

Ezra initially turned down a lightsaber to Pressure combat as a substitute, however you continue to obtained loads of lightsaber time ultimately. How early did they get you concerned in lightsaber and combat choreography?

I began combat rehearsal a couple of month earlier than I shot, and at first, it was fairly fundamental stuff simply as soon as every week. They should watch out and stroll actors via physicality, as a result of they don’t know everybody’s ability degree they usually don’t need anybody to get damage. However I obtained fortunate that one of many stunt folks, Bruce Inaba, was tasked with instructing me alone. Everybody else was so busy with all of the fights that they have been choreographing. He’s just a little youthful than me, and he’s a ninja. He’s one in every of [fight coordinator] Ming Qiu’s literal prodigies, and he or she’s taught him since he was 9 or one thing. He’s now 25, I believe. So I used to be like, “Bruce, man, you’ve obtained to assist me out. Run me via no matter. I’m an athlete. We will’t be instructing me this slowly. You’ve obtained to get me within the combine.” And he was like, “What have they been instructing you?” And I used to be like, “Lunging! They’ve been instructing me easy methods to lunge, dude. Come on.” And he was like, “Okay, okay.” 

So he ran me via a bunch of extra difficult stuff, after which the floodgates opened. Possibly he spoke to Ming or possibly not, however Ming then ran me via a expertise evaluation. After which Ming stated to me, “I need to educate you all of your stunts with the intention to do all of them your self, ideally. That will be the perfect factor for the manufacturing anyway.” And I used to be like, “Oh, I assumed we have been going to do this anyway, however yeah, let’s do this.” And so then it picked up in frequency throughout that month. It grew to become two instances every week, and I’d generally are available an additional time. Nevertheless it wasn’t actually greater than a month of possibly ten classes. I used to be nonetheless practising every single day at dwelling and doing it on a regular basis.

Ezra stored eager to go dwelling, and Sabine made certain he obtained there. However together with her nonetheless stranded on this different galaxy, what’s dwelling with out her? I do know he’s obtained a number of extra mates from Rebels, however doesn’t this dwelling he’s yearned for embody all of them?

I believe so, yeah. His quick aim can be discovering easy methods to get Ahsoka and Sabine again, identical to it was for Sabine and Ahsoka when he went lacking. However they’ve now obtained a a lot better probability at it, as a result of it’s been achieved by Ezra, Ahsoka and Thrawn. So it’ll be a prescient aim if season two is inexperienced lit and whatnot. Bringing them again can be an enormous level, as a result of it isn’t totally dwelling till everyone is again and protected.

Even when you don’t work with somebody on digicam, there’s nonetheless probability of bumping into them at Manhattan Seaside Studios. Was there a day the place you have been loitering close to set and had an surprising encounter? 

My most fascinating encounter was once I was first attending to my stunt rehearsals. They’ve a stunt fitness center, and in the future, as I used to be stretching and warming up, I simply heard two folks going loopy with some choreography. You possibly can hear their sticks and their steps. (Esfandi mimics the sound results.) And I used to be like, “Whoa!” It was an explosion of choreography that was a minute lengthy, and once I turned to go searching, there was this large, statuesque man in a grey shirt. I didn’t acknowledge him off the highest of my head, however he was simply pummeling one of many stunt doubles that I do know. So I went over to look at these guys spar up shut, after which I noticed it was Hayden Christensen. He’s large. He’s a towering presence, and he’s so good at this. I didn’t know the way good he was, as a result of I hadn’t watched the prequels but. And so I watched somebody in actual time who’s been put down in historical past and on this story for being probably the greatest with a lightsaber. So I used to be identical to, “Oh my God, this man is so good.” After which they have been like, “Eman, you prepared to begin?” And I’m like, “Sure! When do I get to do this stuff? That’s my aim now.” So it was actually thrilling to fulfill him, and for lots of different folks, that may’ve been an much more insane expertise. I simply didn’t completely acknowledge him on the time.

Dave Filoni was lately promoted to chief inventive officer at Lucasfilm … 

(Esfandi pumps his fist within the air.)

And contemplating that he helped forged you, you’re in a really fascinating place shifting ahead. We all know he’s making a film in some unspecified time in the future that can conclude this present Disney+ story. Ahsoka season two, whereas unofficial, additionally looks like a foregone conclusion. However do you’ve gotten some inkling that your tenure will lengthen past each of these potential tales? 

Together with a possible season two and the movie, I believe I’ll be very concerned. From all the pieces I’ve realized about Star Wars and what’s canon in the intervening time and the best way Dave and everybody appears to be writing and shifting ahead, I believe Ezra performs a really pivotal function, which is thrilling. As a human, you’re like, “I get to behave! I get to do the factor that I like. I’ll have a job,” however story-wise, it feels appropriate. It looks like, “Yeah, they need to use him. He’d be a extremely good individual to make use of for this or for that.” 

After [the announced movie and a potential Ahsoka season two], I really don’t know. I don’t know if there’s wherever else Ezra might reside throughout the universe. Possibly he sacrifices himself once more within the film, after which he’s achieved for. I don’t know. If I do a second season, I’ll be completely satisfied. If we additionally do a film, I’ll be so completely satisfied, and I’d by no means want greater than that. I’m like Harrison Ford in that approach the place I don’t want Ezra’s story to simply reside without end. I’d reasonably his story be concluded in essentially the most applicable approach for his character. So if it ends on the film, I’ll wash my palms and thank God and transfer on. I additionally don’t know the way I’d really feel after doing a possible season two and a film. I don’t know if I’ll be like, “I need to preserve doing Ezra,” and if that’s the case, then possibly I do. I simply received’t know but till I get there. However for these subsequent installments, I’ll have a really robust presence in these in the event that they occur.

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Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+.